a good budget folding 16" folding bike???

so my mine was set on the dahon boardwalk until i went into my lbs and check it out...it was enormous!!! no way i want that in my tiny nyc apt...lol. but i saw the 16" dahon curve bike and they guy told me it cost $900!!! way out of my budget. any1 here know any good 16" folding around $200 or less? thx in advance.

so my mine was set on the dahon boardwalk until i went into my lbs and check it out...it was enormous!!! no way i want that in my tiny nyc apt...lol. but i saw the 16" dahon curve bike and they guy told me it cost $900!!! way out of my budget. any1 here know any good 16" folding around $200 or less? thx in advance.

Aside from the bikes on eBay, the only 16in folder under $200 I can think of is the Citizen Tokyo:

Keep in mind $200 is a very low price for a folding bicycle and you really do "get what you pay for". I agree that $900 is a lot of $$$, but how about half of that? If the answer is yes, then check out the Downtube Mini, a 16in folder that many have enjoyed:

Keep in mind $200 is a very low price for a folding bicycle and you really do "get what you pay for". I agree that $900 is a lot of $$$, but how about half of that? If the answer is yes, then check out the Downtube Mini, a 16in folder that many have enjoyed:

ok...i'm leaning toward the citizen tokyo 16"...any1 here have any experience with this bike or heard of any reviews on this bike? the website indicated it is on back order till sept. 15...i guess this must be a very popular bike huh?

ok...i'm leaning toward the citizen tokyo 16"...any1 here have any experience with this bike or heard of any reviews on this bike? the website indicated it is on back order till sept. 15...i guess this must be a very popular bike huh?

Hmmmm, I recall caaah -- I may have one too many "a"s in the name -- recently discussed a coworker who dispises the bike.

Hmmmm, I recall caaah -- I may have one too many "a"s in the name -- recently discussed a coworker who dispises the bike.

You're right - she said "NOTE: Don't get the Citizen Tokyo. Absolute crap. The girl I work with just has hers sitting at the office here, collecting dust. She's always trying to sell it to everyone, but no one wants it. "

The Curve D3 is a good bike, keep in mind you get a 3 speed folder, if you are fine with that, pull the trigger. There is nothing wrong with the bike just keep in mind that if you don't have PB shop close you and if you are not comfortable with bikes you, a good idea will be to take the bike to your LBS for initial setting and tune up.
I was in a same position as you and came to realization that it is probably a good idea getting the better bike that i will like and ride rather getting something that isn't gonna do it for me.

The Curve D3 is a good bike, keep in mind you get a 3 speed folder, if you are fine with that, pull the trigger. There is nothing wrong with the bike just keep in mind that if you don't have PB shop close you and if you are not comfortable with bikes you, a good idea will be to take the bike to your LBS for initial setting and tune up.
I was in a same position as you and came to realization that it is probably a good idea getting the better bike that i will like and ride rather getting something that isn't gonna do it for me.

i have never use a speed bike before...how does a 3 speed help? like going uphill or downhill or flat? if i plan to get it...i plan to bring it to my lbs and have them re-assemble it for me. i just called around..prices are around $50-$70 for re-assembly. what is tune up? what do i ask them to do for tune up?

also why is there is a big price descrepancies....on dahon website...it is selling it for $529...also $190 price difference? why? is the curve on performance bike refurbished or something?

If it's actually a 2008, I'd be all over it.. great price.. and a nice bike... if I were to guess why it is so low, it's probably not in stock.. but who knows, maybe it's just a clearance to make way for 2009..

i just pull the trigger!!! i just got it...thx for all the advice...someone please answer my question about the 3 speed questions.

Cool.. do you have a local Performance Bike shop to pick it up from? A 2008 should have a SRAM 3spd.. nice unit.. very reliable.. Gears: low (hills) medium (flats) high (downhills).. If you get it through Performance, I would imagine they'd charge around $40 to set it up for you.

i have never use a speed bike before...how does a 3 speed help? like going uphill or downhill or flat? if i plan to get it...i plan to bring it to my lbs and have them re-assemble it for me. i just called around..prices are around $50-$70 for re-assembly. what is tune up? what do i ask them to do for tune up?

Originally Posted by vincentnyc

i just pull the trigger!!! i just got it...thx for all the advice...someone please answer my question about the 3 speed questions.

I think I can answer some of your questions. I have 3 (a few months ago 4) three speed bikes. Hub gears are simple to use, durable, low maintenance and very reliable. If you are using a bike frequently for relatively short distances, then they are ideal. I just love mine because they are so simple to operate and keep up. The 3 speeds are as follows gear #1 or low: climbing hills or going up long inclines, gear #2 or medium: for general cycling around 95% of the time, and gear # 3 or high: for fast hard pedaling down wind or hills. The rear hub hides the gears and need very little in maintenance. And another feature not often noted is there is no derailleur cage to scrape the ground or bushes when the smaller wheeled bike is being riden about. You have a choice of shifters generally mounted on the handlebars of the traditional plastic or metal thumb shifter or the more modern twist or grip shifter. Also keep in mind that there are more gears now available for internal hub gears. They are available with 1, 3, 5, 7 or 8 gears. If you live in a flattish area 1-3 gears are fine. For slightly hillier areas 5-8 will be useful.

A good bike shop does the initial and post purchase tune-ups after a certain amount or time (generally 1 month) elapses. If the bike shop does not include the tune-ups with your purchase, look elsewhere as they are not so hot. My own Geocities Website covers this and related topics in detail in the Selection section below in my links section below:

If you have anymore questions, please feel free to contact me directly here in this post or at Private Mail. Sometimes people tend to wander off topic here. Please do not take it personally.

you guys said to use low for up climb and high for down climb. now my question is, when you switch to low does the wheel spin faster or slower? same for high? what happen u use the opposite..for example instead of using low for up climb, you use high and vice versa for down hill? what happen if you use medium for uphill and downhill?

so my mine was set on the dahon boardwalk until i went into my lbs and check it out...it was enormous!!! no way i want that in my tiny nyc apt...lol. but i saw the 16" dahon curve bike and they guy told me it cost $900!!! way out of my budget. any1 here know any good 16" folding around $200 or less? thx in advance.

$200 is tight for a good folding bike. If you can stretch $200 more you can get the excellent Downtube Mini I'm sure. It folds very compact for your needs and rides really well.

The Kent Ultralite is fine as a starter bike but you need to be smaller and only ride for relatively short distances at a time.

you guys said to use low for up climb and high for down climb. now my question is, when you switch to low does the wheel spin faster or slower? same for high? what happen u use the opposite..for example instead of using low for up climb, you use high and vice versa for down hill? what happen if you use medium for uphill and downhill?